As you can see, beside Ryder and Desharnais, everbody released is basic support personnel. Ryder himself is kind of a question mark; nobody know what is management's plan for Desharnais, but let's assume he gets an increase to 3.5M$.

Let's set aside a generous 5M$ for additional support personel (resigning or new base UFA or ELC for Tinordi/Beaulieu/Leblanc if they make it).

This still leaves us with a very, very nice 8.4M$ left in cap space to get us UFAs. That's Richards money.

Do you think we should try to get more solid "good/great" players or break the bank with a very sought-after player like Perry?

As you can see, beside Ryder and Desharnais, everbody released is basic support personnel. Ryder himself is kind of a question mark; nobody know what is management's plan for Desharnais, but let's assume he gets an increase to 3.5M$.

Let's set aside a generous 5M$ for additional support personel (resigning or new base UFA or ELC for Tinordi/Beaulieu/Leblanc if they make it).

This still leaves us with a very, very nice 8.4M$ left in cap space to get us UFAs. That's Richards money.

Do you think we should try to get more solid "good/great" players or break the bank with a very sought-after player like Perry?

Way too exhausted to counter this with any evidence, but do you really think DD would command 3.5mil? I have a hard time believing Bergevin would shell out that kind of money for the guy.

I'd give DD 2.5 at most. And that's after a good season. He's doesn't provide defense and is expendable given our Depth of Playmaking Centres. That being said, he is an asset, and could be packaged or re-signed and still contribute positively.

It's interesting for sure, Imagine if Bergevin convinces Perry of his long term plans, he'll play with an improving center in Galchenyuk, another power forward winger in Patches, Gallagher on another wing. Gionta's a UFA after next season he walks we use the money on Eller/ Gally/ Chuckie, Were good to go.

We'll be fine cap wise actually, Markov in a years time (IF we keep him around) will not command the 5.75 he''s getting now, your looking at 3.75, maybe 4, so that's another 6.75 -7 that you can use on to resign players, assuming we replace gionta with perry

It's interesting for sure, Imagine if Bergevin convinces Perry of his long term plans, he'll play with an improving center in Galchenyuk, another power forward winger in Patches, Gallagher on another wing. Gionta's a UFA after next season he walks we use the money on Eller/ Gally/ Chuckie, Were good to go.

For the 1st line, aim for Perry, Semin, or Vanek. If we fail, move on, keep the space, and try again in 2014.

Hell no to Lapierre! White and Dumont have way bigger balls than that punk. Perry is THE UFA next summer, but like I wrote in another thread, Habs could look for players that come free agent in 2014, like Pominville.

With the salary cap going down next season, this projected $8M for Perry might be more than anyone offers. Very few teams will have cap room to enter the bidding war for him, and that includes the usual suspects - the NYR and Flyers.

It looks like this could be the perfect storm for the Habs in landing a real UFA star: Cap space, plus a hot upcoming team.

With the salary cap going down next season, this projected $8M for Perry might be more than anyone offers. Very few teams will have cap room to enter the bidding war for him, and that includes the usual suspects - the NYR and Flyers.

It looks like this could be the perfect storm for the Habs in landing a real UFA star: Cap space, plus a hot upcoming team.

Landing a big star UFA may not be MB's big plan, but he isw defenately making it possible to make any move he wants to basically.

I can also see a summer deal send Gionta out to NJ. I am not sure I would want to, but it seems to me that Bergevin is making space for the young talent we have.

Add in 6 picks in the top 90 now and his devellopment plan seems to be paying off.

With the salary cap going down next season, this projected $8M for Perry might be more than anyone offers. Very few teams will have cap room to enter the bidding war for him, and that includes the usual suspects - the NYR and Flyers.

It looks like this could be the perfect storm for the Habs in landing a real UFA star: Cap space, plus a hot upcoming team.

One of them is Toronto. I doubt Perry chose Montreal over Toronto.

Anyway, I'd aim at assembling 3 good scoring lines and that's pretty much impossible with a 8M forward under a 64M cap.

Bergevin gave himself precious cap flexibility when he shipped away Cole (Gainey ) and convinced Molson to buy out Gomez. Buying/shipping out Kaberle remains an option and, as mentioned by previous posters, letting Gionta walk in July 2015 will liberate another 5M$... just in time for Subban!

RFA Desharnais *1 and White will be back, UFA Bouillon would be a great #7D at a very fair price and Dumont (4th line) and Tinordi (3rd pairing) will be serious candidates for a NHL spot. We are potentially looking at a very advantageous ratio of “contribution : cap hit” here.

Our Canadiens will be well positioned, especially if they make some noise in the upcoming playoffs, to aggressively go after Perry... if he decides to test the market. That said, I would be a happy fan even if the only moves are Tinordi on the 3rd pairing, Bouillon as the #7D and a (Dumont or Lapierre) swap with Armstrong on 4th.

Long story short: our Canadiens are well positioned indeed.

*1 Desharnais, as a productive secondary scoring centre with a cap friendly contract (4 years; 10-12M$) , would be a very valuable asset. The capacity to rely on 3 well balanced scoring lines + a sound 4th line is an advantage. As a RFA, he is not in a position of force: I expect a cap friendly contract.

If they can't extend them before the deadline they said they are going to consider trading them rather then losing them for nothing come summer time like the Devils and Wild did last year with Parise and Suter. If you're the GM you mind is made up already IMO, you either offer them a good deal and see if they take it and if they don't it's most probably cause they're going to want to test the UFA market and then you get screwed with nothing to show for it